KDI School of Public Policy and Management Tenure-Track Faculty Positions, 2026 Academic Year

KDI School is now accepting applications for positions in the following fields:

1) AI Application for Public Policy

2)Strategic Management in the Private and Public Sectors

3) Development Economics

4) Economic Policy

1. Qualifications

1) Successful candidates should have strong training in applied empirical methodology, substantive interests in policy-relevant research, and a teaching portfolio that can suit the needs of an international public policy school with a diverse student body.

2) Applicants should have either completed their Ph.D. or be in the advanced stages of their Ph.D. (ABD status), and be able to submit confirmation of their degree by 31 August 2026 for their appointment.

3) All positions are tenure-track and open rank. Candidates with teaching and/or policy research experience are preferred.

2. Field Descriptions

1) AI Application for Public Policy

We invite applications from scholars advancing the application of artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to address public policy and social science challenges. Successful candidates should hold a disciplinary foundation in computer science, information science, or related engineering fields. Applicants from social science fields (economics, sociology, political science, healthcare, urban planning, and public policy) will also be considered, provided their work engages with AI at the algorithmic, methodological, or interpretive level rather than solely at the application interface. We particularly welcome candidates who go beyond applying pre-trained models through prompting, and instead contribute to opening the “black box” of AI systems (e.g, through mechanistic interpretability, model alignment, or representation learning) in ways that generate new insights for the social sciences and public policy.

2) Strategic Management in the Private and Public Sectors

We invite applications for a tenure-track faculty position in Strategic Management, with a cross-sector emphasis encompassing both private and public organizations. We seek candidates whose research advances knowledge in strategy formulation and alignment, as well as organizational design and implementation across diverse institutional contexts. Areas of particular interest include, but are not limited to: innovative governance, strategic leadership, social entrepreneurship, sustainability strategy, and urban development. Candidates must have, or be on track to earn, a doctoral degree in business administration, public administration, or a closely related field by the start date.

3) Development Economics

We seek candidates whose research focuses on microeconomic issues in development, with a strong emphasis on rigorous causal identification. Scholars employing empirical approaches such as experimental or quasi-experimental methods, as well as other innovative strategies for impact evaluation, are encouraged to apply. Applicants with substantive expertise in developing countries or regions, as well as those with field research experience, are particularly welcome. Experience collaborating with international research or policy partners (e.g., in evaluation, program implementation, or policy design) would be favorable but not required.

4) Economic Policy

We invite applications for up to three tenure-track faculty positions in the following areas: (a) macroeconomics, (b) urban economics, (c) health economics, (d) industrial policies, and (e) the Chinese economy. In line with our mission as a public policy school, we will give precedence to candidates who conduct rigorous research on economic policies with direct policy implications and who can teach related courses in English. For the macroeconomics position, preference will be given to candidates with strong expertise in public finance.

3. Number of Openings: Six or less, depending on the number of qualified candidates

4. Selection Process

1) Document Review: Shortlisting up to six candidates per position in each field

2) Interview: Assessing both general competencies and disciplinary expertise

3) Job Seminar: Conducting an in-depth evaluation of candidates’ research expertise and potential

5. Online Application Submission Deadline

? All application materials, including three letters of recommendation, must reach us no later than November 14, 2025. 11:59PM, (Eastern Standard Time UTC-5)

6. Document Submission [Online Submission]

1) Please submit application materials electronically at https://apply.interfolio.com/176079

2) Letters of recommendation should be submitted directly by the recommender before the deadline.

7. Required Documents 

1) Curriculum vitae

2) Cover letter (Please specify the field for which you are applying)

3) Research Papers (one or two recent working papers or publications)

4) Three letters of recommendation should be sent directly to the interfolio by the referees

5) Consent to Provision·Collection·Use of Personal Information(Attachment 1)

6) Written Pledge and Confirmation of Fair Recruitment(Attachment 2)

• Please carefully read Attachments 1 and 2. Once you have applied for the position, you have given your consent to all the stipulations and requirements in both Attachment 1 and Attachment 2.

- Attachment 1. Consent to Provision·Collection·Use of Personal Information

- Attachment 2. Written Pledge and Confirmation of Fair Recruitment

8. Grounds for Disqualification

1) Individuals falling under Article 33 of the State Public Officials Act.

2) Individuals without restrictions on overseas travel.

3) Individuals whose civil rights have been suspended or revoked by law.

4) Individuals dismissed due to disciplinary action from the KDI School of Public Policy and Management within the past two years.

5) Individuals with a history of evading military service obligations.

6) Individuals falling under any subparagraph of Article 82, Paragraph 1 of the Act on the Prevention of Corruption and the Establishment and Operation of the Anti-Corruption and Civil Rights Commission.

7) Individuals whose employment at a public institution was canceled due to fraudulent recruitment within the last five years.

9. Additional Points

1) Persons with Disabilities and National Meritorious Individuals: Additional 5–10% of the total score will be granted for both the basic and major evaluations, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations.

2) Non-Metropolitan and Relocation Area Talent: Additional 3% of the total score will be granted for the basic evaluation.

10. Others

1) Only successful candidates will be notified individually. If no suitable candidate is identified, the position may remain vacant.

2) The selected candidate will be required to submit additional career and personnel-related documents at a later stage.

3) If any fraudulent activity is discovered, the acceptance and appointment will be immediately revoked.

4) If the research performance and evaluation results do not meet the required standards during the initial contract period (three years), reappointment may be denied.

5) For inquiries regarding the application process, please send an email to mj_yoon@kdischool.ac.kr

(Minjung Yoon, Tel: +82-44-550-1169, Human Resource Division, KDI School of Public Policy and Management)

https://www.kdischool.ac.kr/board.es?mid=a60502010000&bid=0037&act=view&list_no=19203

1) Successful candidates should have strong training in applied empirical methodology, substantive interests in policy-relevant research, and a teaching portfolio that can suit the needs of an international public policy school with a diverse student body.

2) Applicants should have either completed their Ph.D. or be in the advanced stages of their Ph.D. (ABD status), and be able to submit confirmation of their degree by 31 August 2026 for their appointment.

3) All positions are tenure-track and open rank. Candidates with teaching and/or policy research experience are preferred.

About KDI School of Public Policy and Management

KDI (Korea Development Institute) School of Public Policy and Management invites applications for full-time, tenure track positions at all levels in the fields specified below. KDI was ranked 1st in Asia and 5th among non-U.S. think tanks in the 2020 Global Think Tank Index and the School has a vibrant and diverse academic community with some 140 countries represented among our student body and alumni. KDI School is the only international policy school with NASPAA recognition in Korea and the first in Asia. As a graduate-level international policy school, we offer master’s and Ph.D. programs focusing on public policy, development policy, and public management. The normal class teaching load is four courses per year spread out over three trimesters and most courses are taught in English. The School provides internationally competitive compensation, faculty housing options, child education benefits (when available), moving expense support, generous research funding opportunities, and conference travel support. KDI School campus offers unparalleled access to South Korea’s policy and research leaders, given its location in the city of Sejong, the administrative capital of South... Korea, and home to the National Research Complex incorporating leading national policy research institutes. Geographically situated at the center of South Korea, Sejong is connected to Seoul via a high-speed train system with about an hour of travel time, and to all of the other major cities with a travel time of less than 2 hours. As a graduate-level policy school dedicated to mentoring a diverse student body, many of whom come from developing countries, we especially encourage applications from candidates who appreciate diversity and inclusion in their teaching and research. KDI School is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, race, color, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristics protected by law.

Show more

Show less

Connections working at KDI School of Public Policy and Management